JACKSON, Tenn. — April 22, 2022 — 51社区 trustees during their April 22 meeting on the Union campus approved a $96.8 million budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, heard an update about the new academic building to be constructed on the Great Lawn and granted tenure and promotions to several professors.
The budget trustees approved is an increase of 1.86 percent more than the current budget of $95.1 million. Robyn Hari, chair of Union鈥檚 Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for the ways the Union administration manages university resources responsibly and for the generosity of those who contribute to help advance Union鈥檚 mission.
鈥淲e as a board are committed to being wise stewards of the resources that the Lord has entrusted to us,鈥� Hari said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful for God鈥檚 ongoing provision for Union.鈥�
In his report to the board, Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said that the university has $14.2 million committed toward its goal of $15 million for a new academic building that will house the McAfee School of Business and the departments of computer science and engineering.
Groundbreaking for the new facility is scheduled for Sept. 9.
鈥淲e are looking forward to the impact this new building will have on the education that Union provides to its students,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲ith a center for free enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship housed there, it will provide plenty of opportunities for collaboration for our faculty, and it will enable us to continue training students to be godly business leaders.鈥�
Trustees approved tenure for nine professors: Santhosh Abraham, associate professor of accounting; Jeremy Blaschke, associate professor of biology; Rebecca Bohner, associate professor of social work; Karen Dotson, associate professor of social work; Brooke Emery, associate professor of marketing; John Foubert, professor of education; Beth Madison, associate professor of science; Katrinna Matthews, associate professor of social work; and Joseph Xu, associate professor of marketing.
Sixteen professors were promoted. Gary Johnson in the Department of Physical Education, Wellness and Sport (PEWS) was promoted to university professor.
Those promoted to professor were Matt Brunet and Jennifer Shumway in the Department of PEWS, Janna Chance in the Department of English, George Moss in the Department of Mathematics and Michael Schiebout in the Department of Biology. Promoted to associate professor were Esther Choi in the Department of Biology, Christina Davis and Megan Pittman in the College of Nursing, Matt Henderson in the Department of Sociology, Ted Kluck in the Department of Communication Arts, Duncan Nicol and Janice Pittman in the McAfee School of Business, Savannah Patterson in the library, Ashley Pugh in the College of Pharmacy and Jill Wells in the School of Social Work.
In addition, trustees granted emeritus status to seven professors. Emeritus status may be awarded to Union faculty who are retired from the university, hold at least the rank of assistant professor, completed at least 15 years of full-time service, demonstrated excellence in their work and are recommended by the department chair and dean.
Professors who were awarded with emeritus status were David Burke, who retired in 2019 as professor of theater; Patsy Crihfield, retiring in 2022 as professor of nursing; James Huggins, who retired in 2021 as university professor of biology; Terry Lindley, retiring in 2022 as university professor of history; Bill Nettles, retiring in 2022 as university professor of physics; Joanne Stephenson, retiring in 2022 as university professor of psychology; and Teresa West, retiring in 2022 as university professor of psychology.
Trustees also awarded Jan Wilms, university professor of computer science, with a research leave for the fall semester in 2022. Wilms received a Fulbright Grant to help the University of Danang in Vietnam create a cybersecurity program.
鈥淭he Lord has blessed Union with outstanding professors who embody excellence in their field and who faithfully teach and mentor students to pursue excellence themselves,鈥� Hari said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to see so many faculty members recognized for the quality of their work and their commitment to the Christ-centered education that Union provides.鈥�